Band blade sharpener



Feb. 4, 1964 H. c. SIMMONS 3,120,086

BAND BLADE SHARPENER Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 6 4": C. 3/4010:

4,1964 H. c. SIMMONS 3,120,086

BAND BLADE SHARPENER Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG! 5 INVENTOR. Mean 6. S/mvom:

4 n'mwars Feb. 4, 1964 H. c. SIMMONS BAND BLADE SHARPENER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm x S m m E ws W w M H Filed March 5, 1962 Feb. 4, 1964 H. c. SIMMONS 3, ,0

BAND BLADE SHARPENER Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q INVENTOR.

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Feb. 4, 1964 H. c. SIMMONS 3,120,086

BAND BLADE SHARPENER Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FILE 1.1%

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United States Patent 3,129,086 BAND BLADE SHARPENER Haryl C. Simmons, 749 E. River Road, Anoka, Minn. Filed Mar. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 179279 18 Qlairns. (Ci. 5125ll) This is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application for Band Blade Sharpener, Serial No. 91,897, originally filed February 27, 1961, now abanboned.

The invention herein has relation to a device for sharpening slicing bands capable of employment for various purposes and especially useful for accomplishing the sharpening of slicing bands of bread slicing machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a band blade sharpener, of the kind as disclosed in my Unted States Letters Patent No. 2,786,314, for Sharpener for Slicing Bands, granted March 26, 1957, wherein will be incorporated various novel and improved features and characteristics of constructions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable sharpener support which may be used in combination with a sharpener calculator to obtain the correct sharpening angle as slicing bands wear. The calculator is used to calculate the proper angular adjustment for sharpening slicing bands from the time the slicing band is new until it is completely worn out.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bread slicing machine of character as now commonly in use;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a sharpener for slicing bands made according to the invention as when applied to use in a machine as disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section and partially broken away, of the sharpener, on a scale larger than in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of said sharpener, on a scale smaller than in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view corresponding generally with the disclosure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 66 in FIG. 3

FIG. 7 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, corresponding generally with the disclosure of FIG. 3, of a sharpener incorporating features and characteristics of the invention but disclosing units including grinding wheels for accomplishing sharpening of cutting edges of slicing bands instead of units including elongated whetstones for the same purpose as shown in said FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a detail sectional view, taken on line Ill-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an edge elevational view of one of the duplicate units including grinding wheels disclosed in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a plan view detailing features of a wiper and a scraper of the sharpener as they would appear from the position of line 12-12 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view, taken as on line 1313 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged detail sectional view taken substantiahy on the same line as FIG. 10 and illustrating adjustable mechanism for obtaining precise blade sharpening angles with a device made according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a calculator for determining the proper setting of the mechanism shown 3,120,086 Ice Patented Feb. 4, 1

2 in FIG. 14 to obtain the correct sharpening angle for a slicing band; and

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken as on line 1717 in FIG. 15.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings there is disclosed a bread slicing machine of construction as now commonly in use, and in FIG. 2 a sharpening device incorporating features and characteristics of the invention is shown as when assembled with a slicing machine as in said FIG. 1. The new and improved device is associated with the slicing machine in such manner that it can be employed to sharpen each of the slicing bands thereof. A single slicing band, denoted 15, is shown. Each slicing band is continuous, rides upon spaced upper and lower drums, indicated 16 and 17, respectively, of the machine, and the different slicing band lengths are retained in spaced, parallel relation, as by guide fingers 18, the spaces between adjacent lengths of slicing bands depending upon the thickness of the slices of bread to be cut. Side surfaces of each slicing band ride the upper and lower drums 16 and 17, respectively, the slicing bands are twisted at locations adjacent to said drums, lengths of each slicing band across each other in spaced relation transversely of the slicing machine at location midway between the drums, and the cutting edges of each length of each slicing band face upwardly at loca tions between said drums, as disclosed in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The lower drum 17 is driven by an electric motor 19 through the medium of a belt 20. The drums 16 and 17 are positioned so the slicing bands are taut. Loaves of bread to be sliced are advanced successively along a platform 21, clear of the sharpening device, thus to be fed to and past the slicing bands, and after they have been sliced the loaves are carried out of the machine.

Brackets 22, one being shown, each at an outer side of and in spaced relation to an outermost slicing band 15, are fixedly supported, as at 23, upon parts of the slicing machine below the slicing bands. A shaft 24, for slidably and rotatably supporting the sharpening device, is mounted in the brackets and extends transversely of the slicing machine at the under side of and in spaced relation to said slicing bands. The slicing bands are in vertical planes and the supporting shaft 24 is in a horizontal plane.

A hub 25 is mounted, as at 26, upon the supporting shaft 24 for rotatable movement in a vertical plane thereon and slidable movement in a horizontal plane therealong, and a frame of the sharpening device is constituted as an elongated member 27 having an end portion thereof rigidly secured, as at 28, to the hub 25. The construction and arrangement are such that the elongated member or frame 27 and the hub 25 are rotatable and slidable as a unit on said supporting shaft.

The elongated member or frame 27 is cut away to provide spaced apart vertical openings, represented 29, 30 and 31, respectively, in said elongated member or frame which are in aligned relation longitudinally thereof. The lower ends of the openings 29, 3% and 31 are bounded or defined by a lower wall 32 of the elongated member or frame in perpendicular relation to the supporting shaft 24, and walls 33, between and at opposite sides, respectively, of the openings 29, 3t and 31 and perpendicular to the lower wall 32, interconnect a main body 34 of the elongated member or frame with said lower wall.

Each of the vertical openings 29 andv 30 contains a vertical tool holding lever, indicated 35 and 36, respectively, and the vertical opening 31 contains a pair of vertical complemential wiper holding levers, each desig nated 37. All of the tool and Wiper holding levers are in alignment longitudinally of the elongated member or frame 37.

A horizontal shaft 38, which is in parallel relation to the main body 34 of the elongated member or frame 27, as well as above and in spaced relation to the lower wall 32 thereof and in perpendicular relation to the shaft 24 on the slicing machine, is supported in walls of said elongated member or frame bounding the openings 2? and and in turn rotatably supports the vertical tool holding levers and 36.

A horizontal shaft 39 also in parallel relation to said main body of the elongated member or frame, as well as above and in spaced relation to said lower wall and in perpendicular relation to said shaft 24, is supported in walls of said elongated member or frame bounding the opening 31 and in turn rotatably supports the wiper holding levers 37, 37.

An upper portion of the tool holding lever 35 extends upwardly and a lower portion thereof projects downwardly from the horizontal shaft 33 at the right side of the elongated member or frame 27 in FIG. 6. Horizontal compression coil springs 41 in the main body 34 of said elongated member or frame at the side thereof opposite the lower portion 40, the left side in said FIG. 6, normally urge the upper portion of the tool holding lever 35 to swing toward the right in FIG. 6. Stated differently, the compression coil springs 41 are for resiliently urging sharpening elements supported by the tool holding lever 35 against the cutting edges of slicing bands being sharpened in the machine.

An upper portion of the tool holding lever 36 extends upwardly and a lower portion 42 thereof projects downwardly from the horizontal shaft 38 at the left side of said elongated member or frame in FIG. 7. Horizontal compression coil springs 43 in said main body of the elongated member or frame at the side thereof opposite the lower portion 42, the right side in said FIG. 7, normally urge the upper portion of the tool holding lever 36 to swing toward the left in FIG. 7. Stated otherwise, the compression coil springs 43 are for resiliently urging sharpening elements supported by the tool holding lever 36 against the cutting edges of slicing bands being sharpcried in the machine.

An upper portion of each of the wiper holding levers 37 extends upwardly and a lower portion 44 of each wiper holding lever projects downwardly from the horizontal shaft 39. Parts of the wiper holding levers which are at the elevation of the horizontal shaft 39 are in adjacent, parallel relation and aligned longitudinally of the elongated member or frame. Upper end portions of said wiper levers, respectively, are parallel and in alignment transversely of said elongated member or frame, as well as situated at opposite sides thereof. Horizontal compression coil springs 4-5 in the main body 34 of the elongated member or frame normally urge the upper portions of the wiper holding levers, above the horizontal shaft 39, toward each other.

In FIGS. 2 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, the band blade sharpener employs elongated whetstones, desirably so-called oilstone hones, mounted for inward and out- Ward bodily movement and limited rotation on the tool holding levers, as well as for angular adjustment whereby to render each of the whetstones capable of sharpening at precisely the angle which is considered correct, to obtain keen edges, for the width of band being operated upon. The construction and arrangement are such that the elongated hones can be set to be and remain at any accurate acute angle relation to the slicing bands as may be appropriate and predetermined. As will be further explained later, the adjusting device can be used in combination with a calculator to exactly determine the angular setting of the bones for any slicing band.

An upper end surface of the tool holding lever 35 is fiat. A cylindrical post 46 of a first Whetstone unit of the sharpener, shown in section in FIG. 6, is rotatably supported, as at 47, in the upper end portion of said tool holding lever, and an upright support 48, rigid and aligned with said cylindrical post, rests upon said upper end surface of the tool holding lever. A frame of said first whetstone unit consists of a base member 49 and spaced, parallel arms 50 at opposite sides of and in overlying relation to the upright support 48. A pivot pin 51 extending transversely through an intermediate portion of said upright support also extends through intermediate portions of the arms 50 of said frame and mounts the frame on the support for adjustable rotative movement in a vertical plane. An upwardly facing surface 52 of the base member 49 of the frame, in acute angle relation to the slicing bands 15 at a side thereof opposite a back-up strip 53 therefore, slants upwardly and inwardly toward said backup strip. The bacl -up strip is rigid with the elongated member or frame 27 of the machine and in parallel relation to the horizontal shaft 38. A portion 54 of said back-up strip is detachable, for convenient insertion of the first Whetstone unit, and when replaced, will prevent removal of the cylindrical post 46 from the tool holding lever 35.

The base member 49 constitutes a holder for elongated whetstones, denoted 55 and 56, of the first Whetstone unit which are secured down, as at 57, against the upwardly facing surface 52 of said base member.

Each of the elongated whetstones 55 and 56 is bounded at one of its sides by a flat and longitudinally straight surface and at its other side by an are shaped and longitudinally straight surface. Stated differently, each of the whetstones is an oilstone hone of part-cylindrical configuration and uniform thickness and width. The homes 55 and 56 are in spaced relation longitudinally of the elongated member or frame 27, as well as in parallel relation with each other and in planes perpendicular to the horizontal shaft 38. The are shape surfaces of said hones lie in longitudinally spaced, transversely extending, concave recesses in the upwardly facing surface 52 of the base member 49, and the bones project upwardly to position above the slicing bands and back-up strip at opposite sides of and in equally spaced relation to the cylindrical post 46. I

Means for accomplishing adjustable rotative movement of the frame of the first Whetstone unit, consisting of the base member 49 and the spaced, parallel arms 50, relative to the upright support 48 thereof includes a calibrated hand piece 58 rigid with an externally threaded adjusting screw 59 extending through said upright support in perpendicular relation thereto. Said calibrated hand piece is to be turned in one direction to move the adjusting screw inwardly to rotate the hones 55, 56 toward the back-up strip 53 and in an opposite direction to permit a compression coil spring 60 to rotate said hones away from said back-up strip.

An upper end surface of the tool holding lever 36 is fiat. A cylindrical post 61 of a second Whetstone unit of the sharpener, shown in section in FIG. 7, is rotatably supported, as at 62, in the upper end portion of said tool holding lever, and an upright support 63, rigid and alined with said upright post, rests upon said upper end surface of the tool holding lever. A frame of said second whetstone unit consists of a base member 64 and spaced, parallel arms 65 at opposite sides of and in overlying relation to the upright support 63. A pivot pin 66 extending transversely through an intermediate portion of the upright support also extends through intermediate portions of the arms 65 of said frame and mounts the frame on the support for adjustable rotative movement in a vertical plane. An upwardly facing surface 67 of the base member 64 of the frame, in acute angle relation to the slicing band 15 at a side thereof opposite a back-up strip 68 therefor, slants upwardly and inwardly toward said backup strip. The back-up strip is rigid with the elongated member or frame and in parallel relation to the horizontal shaft 38. A portion 69 of said back-up strip is detachable in order that the second Whetstone unit can be readily insertable and removable, and when said portion is replaced it will prevent removal of the cylindrical post 61 from the tool holding lever 36.

The base member 64 constitutes a holder for elongated whetstones, indicated 70 and 71, of the second Whetstone unit which are secured down, as at 72, against the upwardly facing surface 67 of said base member.

Each of the elongated whetstones 70 and 71 is of the same construction as are each of the whetstones 55 and 56, being bounded at one side by a fiat surface and at the other side by an are shaped surface. The base member 64 and the whetstones 70, 71 are assembled with each other in the same general manner as disclosed in FIG. 6 and hereinbefore described, and when assembled bear equivalent relation to the slicing bands, the back-up strip 68, and other components, as will be apparent from FIG. 7. 7

Means for accomplishing adjustable rotative movement of the frame of the second Whetstone unit, consisting of the base member 64 and the spaced, parallel arms 65, relative to the upright support 63 thereof includes a calibrated hand piece 73 rigid with an externally threaded adjusting screw 74 extending through said upright support in perpendicular relation thereto. Said calibrated hand piece is to be turned in one direction to move said adjusting screw inwardly to rotate the bones 70, 71,

toward the back-up strip 68 and in opposite direction to move the adjusting screw outwardly to permit a compression coil spring 75 to rotate said hones away from said back-up strip.

The upper end of each wiper holding lever 37 removably supports a wiper for rotative movement in a vertical plane, best disclosed in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 12 of the drawings. The midwidth of a vertical rectangular plate 76 of each wiper is pivotally secure, as at 77, to each wiper holding lever for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed longitudinally of the elongated member or frame 27. A metal backing clip 78, with which a wiping pad 79 is rigid, is detachably clamped down upon an upper and opposite side edge portions of each rectangular plate. The wiping pads 79 can be of any material suitable to their purpose. The wiping pad assembled with one of the wiper holding levers 3-7 will be at one side of and in facing relation to and the wiping pad assembled with the other wiper holding lever will be at the opposite side of and in facing relation to each slicing band while it is passing through the device and being sharpened. The lower portions 44 of the wiper holding levers 37 are at opposite sides, respectively, of the horizontal shaft 39, and the wiper pads are in a plane parallel to the plane of said elongated member or frame and also including the bones 55, 56 and 70, 71.

An outer surface of the upper portion of each wiper lever 37 fixedly supports, as at 80, a metallic arm 81 which extends rearwardly of the wiper lever in a horizontal plane longitudinally of the frame 27, and a steel scraper "blade 82 is rigidly secured to each metallic arm 81 to extend rearwardly and inwardly therefrom, as best disclosed in FIGS. 3, 4, 8, l2 and 13. The steel scraper blades are in alinement transversely and longitudinally of the frame 27, and the construction and arrangement will be such that the rearward ends of said scraper blades, respectively, will be engageable under resilient pressure from springs 45 with opposite surfaces of each scraper blade. The rearward end of each metallic arm 80 rigidly supports, as at 83, a vertical fixture 84, and each fixture rigidly removably supports, as by employment of a cap member 85 and a screw 86, a corresponding Scrapper blade '82. Evidently, the scraper blades can be replaced and turned end for end in practical use.

A horizontal cam shaft 87, rotatably mounted in walls 33 of the elongated member or frame 27 between and at the opposite sides of the Openings 29 and 30, is situated in spaced, parallel relation to and between the horizontal shaft 38 and the lower wall 32. A first cam 88 on the cam shaft 87 is situated adjacent to and in alinement transversely of said elongated member or frame with the lower portion 40 of the tool holding lever 35, about as disclosed 6 in FIGS. 3 and 6 A second cam 89 on said cam shaft is situated adjacent to and in alinement transversely of the elongated member or frame with the lower portion 42 of the tool holding lever 36, as disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 7.

A manipulating lever rigid with the cam shaft 87 is for accomplishing its manual rotation, together with its first and second cams 88 and 89 as a unit, selectively to be situated to release the lower portions of the tool holding levers and permit the compression coil springs '41 and 43 to resiliently urge the bones against opposite surfaces of a slicing band being sharpened, or to cause said first and second cams to be at positions where said lower portions of the tool holding levers will be situated to cause the hones to be spread and held apart against resilient force of said compression coil springs.

A horizontal cam shaft 91, rotatably mounted in walls 33 of the elongated member or frame 27 at the opposite sides of the opening 31, is situated in horizontal a linement with the cam shaft 87. A third cam 92 on the cam shaft 91 is situated between and adjacent to and in transverse alinement with the lower portions 44 of the wiper holder levers 37, about as disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 8.

An extension of the horizontal cam shaft 91 spaced from the supporting shaft 24 rigidly supports a first bevel gear 93 in alinement with said cam shaft, and an extension of the lower wall 32 of the elongated member or frame 27 rotatably supports an actuator shaft 94 disposed in perpendicular relation to the cam shaft and having thereon and in alinement therewith a second bevel gear 95 which meshes with said first bevel gear 93'. A manipulating handle 96 rigid with an eccessible end portion of the actuator shaft 94 is for accomplishing manual rotation of the horizontal cam shaft 91, together with the third cam 92 as a unit. Said manipulating handle is selectively to be situated transversely of the elongated member or frame, as in FIG. 8 to cause the third cam 92 to be in released relation to the lower portions 44 of the wiper holding levers 37 and permit the compression coil springs 45 to resiliently urge the wiping pads 79 and the scraper blades 82 against opposed surfaces of a slicing band and longitudinally of said elongated member or frame to cause said third carn to be in position where spreading said lower portions of said wiper holding levers apart thus to cause said wiping pads and scraper blades to be retained in spread apart relation against resilient force of said compression coil springs tending to move them toward each other.

The sharpening device includes four longitudinally aligned sets of guide fingers, each denoted 97, there being a first set of upstanding guide fingers between the hub 25 and the hone 55, a second set of upstanding guide fingers between the bones 56 and 70, a third set of upstanding guide fingers between the hone 71 and the scraper blades 82, and a fourth set of upstanding guide fingers at the side of the wiping pads 79 opposite said blades. The guide fingers of each set are in alignment transversely of the frame 27 and in snug relation to opposite side surfaces, respectively, of each slicing band when passing through the device while being cleaned and/ or sharpened.

Supporting rollers 98, in a single plane parallel with the line of feed of slicing bands, are situated between lower, inner portions of the different sets of upstanding guide fingers, and straight lower edges of slicing bands ride on said supporting rollers as they are made to travel through the sharpening device.

A protecting housing, for covering up the hones, wiping pads, scraper blades and slicing bands while being operated upon, will be employed. The protecting housing 121 when applied encloses portions of slicing bands without in any way offering interference to placement of the device into and removal of said device from operative sharpening position, or to the accomplishment of slicing band sharpening operations. And, too, the construction and arrangement of the protecting housing is such that it accumulates all of the foreign matter, such as metal particles, dirt, etc., which becomes removed from the slicing bands and prevents any from being carried into the bread. This housing is removed for cleaning by pivoting the two halves about spring loaded pivot point 122.

A stop rod or locating bar 99 for the sharpener is constituted as a horizontal cylindrical rod rigid with and extending transversely of the slicing machine at a location below and in spaced relation to the slicing bands, as well as in parallel relation to the supporting shaft 24. An extension 100 of the elongated member or frame 27 spaced from said supporting shaft provides a groove 161 which is bounded by an upwardly facing seat 192. The sharpening device is mounted upon the supporting shaft to be capable of being slid longitudinally therealong, as well as swung between the dotted line position in FIG. 2, where said device is clear of the slicing bands, and the full line position in said FIG. 2, where the device is situated to be operative upon the slicing band disclosed. A clamp 163 for rigidly rernovably securing the stop rod or locating bar 99 in the groove 101, between said clamp and the upwardly facing seat 102, thus to secure the sharpening device in fixed position in the machine, is rigid with and in perpendicular relation to the upper end of the actuator shaft 97. The clamp will be situated to be clear of said stop rod or locating bar when said sharpening device is swung from the position where clear of the slicing bands to position where to be operative thereon, with the manipulating handle disposed longitudinally of the elongated member or frarne 27 and turned to position as in FIG. 3 when the upwardly facing seat 102 shall have become engaged With the stop rod or locating bar. A coil spring 104, on said actuator shaft, seated between the extension 100 and the second bevel gear 95, is under compression to resiliently urge the clamp 163 downwardly. The construction and arrangement as illustrated and described is provision for insuring that the device when in proper operative position for correct sharpening will not become removed therefrom.

The longitudinally alined sets of guide fingers 97 will preclude twisting of each slicing band while being scraped and wiped and sharpened. Stated otherwise, said guide fingers will maintain portions of the slicing bands being operated upon in a single longitudinal plane while they are being continuously fed through and progressively operated upon in the device, and lower edges of the slicing bands will rest squarely on the supporting rollers 98 also maintained in a single plane longitudinally of the elongated member or frame 27.

The third cam 92, on the horizontal cam shaft 91 and controlling the scraper blades 82 and the wiping pads 79, will be set to permit the compression coil springs 45 to be operative to move the upper portions of the scraper and wiper holding levers toward each other through the instrumcntality of the manipulating handle 96 also operative to actuate the clamp 163 to position where grasping the sharpening device to the slicing machine. The scraping and wiping action will commence immediately when the sharpening device is clamped in its correct operative position and will be allowed to continue during the whole of the sharpening period and for as long a time thereafter as may be considered desirable. The first and second earns 88 and 89, controling the hones 55, 56 and 76, 71, respectively, and operable independently of the third cam 92, may be set to apply said hones to and remove them from a slicing band at any time which may be considered preferable with respect to the time of start and stop of scraping and wiipng. The slicing bands should be scraped and wiped before, while and after they are sharpened. They will then be clear of residue from the bread before the hones are applied. Particles of the bands and hones will be prevented from traveling along the bands to the drums or guide fingers 18. Also, the bands will be clean upon resumption of slicing operations.

The band blade sharpened herein illustrated and de scribed has been devised to be capable of accomplishing precision sharpening, with the end in view of setting the hones at precisely accurate acute angle relation to the slicing bands as may in any instance be predetermined through use of a calculator later described and having said hones permanently remain at correct angular relation to said slicing bands when once set.

Mounting of the hones on the holding levers 35 and 36 in the manner as set forth, for inward and outward bodily movement, limited movement of rotation and angular adjustment in a vertical plane, is assurance for the application of equalized pressure by the hones of each set against slicing bands, whether or not said hones are of the same or different thickness, as well as for rendering the hones capable of sharpening at precisely the angle which is considered correct to the attainment of keen edges regardless of variance in the widths of slicing bands. Hones constructed and mounted as hereinbefore described sharpen down into the gullets or valleys, or to the bottoms of scallops, of bands of types customarily employed for the slicing of bread. The pivoted action mounted is provision for smoother and evener riding of the sharpening elements along slicing bands than has heretofore been the case, as well as for smoother and evener contacting of the gullets or valleys. Change of angle is smooth and even. Tendency toward bumping inwardly and outwardly along slicing bands, as exists when fixedly mounted band sharpencrs are employed, is appreciably reduced. The sharpenin elements apply their pressure smoothly and evenly to slicing bands at a precisely set degree of acute angle.

Abrasive action by each hone applied against slicing bands will be over an area of said hone rather than at a fixed location as in the instances of fixedly set sharpening instruments.

The abrasive action as applied has tendency toward causing displaced particles to become removed from the hones and deposited into a protecting cover for the device, rather than tendency toward becoming accumulated on the sharpening elements, as is the case when fixedly supported sharpening elements are employed. The hones are readily and easily longitudinally adjustable in their holders, when to be raised or lowered, without alteration of set angle relation of hone-slicing hand to each other, and said hones can be turned end for end.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings there is disclosed a sharpening device made according to the invention including grinding wheel units for accomplishing sharpening of cutting edges of slicing bands capable of use in replacement of hone units for the same purpose as hereinbefore described, and FIG. 11 discloses one of the duplicate grinding Wheel units shown in FIG. 9 as when removed from the device. Parts disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10 which are the same as, or equivalent to, the parts hereinbefore described have been given the same reference numerals.

A cylindrical post 165 of a first grinding Wheel unit 167 of the sharpener, shown in section in FIG. 10, is rotatably supported in the upper end portion of the tool holding lever 35, and an upright support 108, rigid and alined with said cylindrical post, rests upon the upper end surface of the tool holding lever. A frame of said first grinding wheel unit consists of a base member 109 and spaced, parallel arms 110 at opposite sides of and in overlying relation to the upright support 108. A pivot pin 111 extendin transversely through an intermediate portion of said upright support also extends through intermediate portions of the arms 110 of said frame and mounts the frame on the support for adjustable rotative movement in a vertical plane. A grinding wheel 112, in acute angle relation to the removable portion 54 of the back-up strip, is mounted, as at 113, for rotation on a shank 114 in perpendicular relation to and rigid with an outer surface of the base member 109.

Means for accomplishing adjustable rotative movement of the frame of the first grinding Wheel unit 107, consisting of the base member 1119 and the spaced, parallel arms 1111, relative to the upright support 1% thereof includes a calibrated hand piece 115 rigid with an externally threaded adjusting screw 116 extending through said upright support in perpendicular relation thereto. Said calibrated hand piece is to be turned in opposite directions selectively to swing the grinding wheel toward the backup strip and to permit said grinding wheel to swing away from said back-up strip.

A second grinding wheel unit 117 of the sharpener disclosed in FIG. 9 is or can be a duplicate of the first grinding wheel unit and assembled with the device and manipulated in substantially the same manner.

Interchangeable honing and grinding units are provided for the reason that it is more appropriate in some instances of sharpening slicing bands [to employ bones and in other instances to employ grinders. More explicitly stated, the cutting edges to new slicing bands are thin and can be successfully and effectively honed with a minimum of effort to achieve a keen sharpness with production of but a minimum of dirt, such as particles of metal, etc, which obviously is desirable. In time, the cutting edges of slicing bands become worn down, by reason of use, to where honing would be inappropriate. An extremely long period of time would be required to sharpen worn down and thus thickened cutting edges solely by honing, with creation of more dirt than would be conformable to sanitary procedure inbakeries. More appropriately, worn down and thickened cutting edges of slicing bands should be ground, preferably when the slicing machine is not being employed to slice bread, for the reason that grinders can be more effective and operate much more quickly to thin cutting edges than can hones. In practical operation of the new and improved sharpener of the invention, the grinders will be utilized to reduce the magni-tude of the cutting edges of slicing bands to a desired thinness and the bones will be employed, every two hours or so, between bread slicing operations to maintain the slicing band cutting edges keenly sharp.

Inasmuch as stronger spring pressure is required for grinding than for honing, it is desirable that the compression coil springs 41 and 43 be removable and replaceable. The outer end portion of each of said compression coil springs is slidably situated in an opening 118 in the elongated member or frame 27, and the outer end of each of the springs is engaged against the inner surface of a plate 119 detachably secured, as at 120, against an outer surface of said elongated member or frame. When compression coil springs are to be removed and replaced, the plates are to be detached, springs are to be withdrawn and replaced by other springs, by way of the openings 118, and said plates are to be returned to their fastened down positions.

It is essential, for purposes of sanitation, that the wip ing pads 79 be frequently removed and replaced by clean wiping pads, between both honing and grinding operations, and especially between grinding operations.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 14 and 15, a form of the invention is shown which permits rapid adjustment of the grinding tool to obtain the proper band sharpening angle. In this form of the invention parts identical with parts in the other forms of the invention are identically numbered. For example, the sharpening unit is mounted in a main body 34 having side walls 32, 32 as in a previous form of the invention. Also, tool holding lever 35 is rotatably mounted on horizontal shaft 38 and a spring 41 is positioned to urge the upper portion of the tool holding lever 35 toward the right in FIG. 14. The first grinding wheel unit 107 in this form of the invention includes a grinding wheel 112 which is rotatably mounted on a shank 135 which in turn is integral with a frame 134 having a base member 136 and a pair of spaced parallel arms 137, 137 which fit over an upright support 10 138. The upright support 138 has an integral cylindrical post 139 which is rotatably mounted in the upper portion of tool holding lever 35. A calibrated hand wheel 140 is integral with a threaded adjusting screw 141 which in turn is threadably mounted through upright support 138, as at 142, and contacts an inner surface 145 of the base member 136 of the frame 134. The parallel arms 137, 137 of the frame 134 are pivotally mounted to upright support 138 with a close fitting pin 146. A spring 147 is positioned between the upper portions of upright support 138 and the upper portions of base member 136 of frame 134. The spring 147 resiliently urges the lower portion of base member 136 against adjusting screw 141.

The movement of adjusting screw 141 in toward the base member 136 of frame 134 is limited by a stop collar 148 which is of exact length to give the proper sharpening angle to a bread slicing band when it is new. In this initial position the minor surface 149 of hand wheel 1411 is tight against the stop collar 148. A compression coil spring 151 is positioned over stop collar 148 and provides a braking action on hand wheel 140 to prevent it from moving when the sharpener is in use.

The hand wheel 140 is divided into four segments by calibrations 152 as shown in FIG. 15 and suitable indicia 151 are embossed on the hand wheel. For example, the hand wheel shown in FIG. 15 is divided into four parts and numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3.

The device illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 is made to facilitate the proper setting of the angle of grinding wheel 112 in relation to the cutting edge of slicing band 155. As can be seen, the angle with which grinding wheel 112 contacts the slicing band 155 is determined not only by the distance between the center of pivot of lever 35 about shaft 38 but also by the angle at which grinding wheel 112, which is attached to frame 134, is positioned with respect to support 138. Thus the angular position of the frame 134 with respect to support 138 is important.

As shown in FIG. 14 the stop collar 148 is made of exact length so that when the hand wheel 140 is tightened against the collar grinding wheel 112 will contact a new slicing band at the proper sharpening angle.

It will also be seen that as the band wears down, and the sharpener is placed in position for use, without changing the hand wheel setting, the lever 35 pivots about shaft 38 and the grinding wheel 112 will contact the worn band at a relatively flatter angle with respect to the cutting edge. The band will not be sharpened correctly and will become unusable for slicing bread. In order to compensate for the wear of the band it is necessary to turn hand wheel 140 so that adjusting screw 141 will permit frame 134 to pivot under urging of spring 147 and thus change the angle of grinding wheel 112. Thus by properly adjusting hand wheel 140 the desired sharpening angle for the slicing band can be obtained even after the band is worn.

In practice it has been found that when the slicing bands wear operators of the sharpener have had diificulty in obtaining the correct sharpening angle for worn hands and consequently the results have not been entirely satisfactory. In order to eliminate hurnan error in setting the angle of the sharpening wheel 112 after the sharpening band has become worn, a gage or calculator is used in combination to permit rapid and proper settings of the grinding wheel.

As shown in FIG. 16, a calculator 156 is positioned on the worn slicing band 155. The slicing band 155 is reduced in width from a new band.

The calculator 156 is comprised of a relatively flat plate member 157 that has a portion thereof bent up to form a trough or channel shaped portion 158 adjacent one edge thereof. The trough or channel shaped portion 158 is of configuration to receive a slicing band 155 and slidably fit thereover. The fiat plate 157 is divided into four equal segments or portions by calibration lines 159 and the segments are numbered with suitable indicia 160 1 1 corresponding to the indicia on hand wheel 140. As shown the indicia are illustrated at 160 and are 0, 1, 2, and 3.

An indicator line 162 is embossed or inscribed on the flat plate 157. The indicator line is at an angle with respect to a bottom edge 165 of the trough 158. The indicator line is a graphic representation of the relative position of the hand wheel 140 that will result in the proper sharpening angle of a slicing band. Thus for any particular width of slicing band it is necessary only to place the calculator on the slicing band so the band is seated in and against the bottom edge of trough 158 and determine at which point the cutting edge of the band intersects the indicator line. By then determining the position of this intersection point with respect to the calibrations on the calculator and by setting the indicia on the hand wheel at the corresponding position grinding wheel will be positioned at the proper sharpening angle for the sharpener to correctly sharpen the slicing band that is positioned in the calculator is determined.

For example a new inch band that is seated against bottom edge 165 will intersect the indicator line at the far left edge of the calculator as shown in FIG. 16, which is a setting of 0. By turning the hand wheel down onto the stop collar it will be found that the O numeral on the hand wheel 140 will be at the top of the wheel, adjacent an indicator arrow 166. The hand wheel also will be tight against the stop collar and in this way the proper angular setting for a new slicing band is obtained.

The worn slicing band, 155 is shown positioned in the calculator 157. As can be seen with the straight edge of the band seated against bottom edge 165 of the trough, the band intersects the indicator line 162 at point 167, approximately midway between the calibration lines 159 numbered 2 and 3. Thus, as shown in FIG. 15, by turning the hand wheel 140 in direction to move adjusting screw 141 outwardly until the arrow 166 indicates a point midway between the indicia 2 and 3 on the hand wheel, the proper angular setting of the grinding wheel 112 for the slicing band 155 is obtained.

The slope of the indicator line 162 is a function of and dependent upon the relative positions of pin 147, on which frame 134 pivots, and shaft 38, on which arm 35 pivots, with respect to the slicing band when in sharpening position. In addition the thread or pitch of the adjusting screw 141 is such that one complete turn of the hand wheel will adjust the sharpening angle from the proper amount for a new slicing band to the proper angle to sharpen a worn out slicing band. The calibration on the calculator, which intersect the indicator line, are spaced to give the proper relationship to the calibration on the hand wheel, so the unit is direct reading. When the slicing band is worn so that the width thereof is less than the distance from the lower end of indicator line 162 to the bottom edge 165 of the trough, the band is completely worn out and should be discarded.

It can easily be seen that the calculator 157 can be quickly used in combination with the sharpening device illustrated and provides a simple effective device to obtain accurate adjustment of the grinding wheel.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of a continuous slicing band while being fed over and between first and second spaced apart rotating drums, said slicing band including a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of 180 degrees therein, said device comprising a frame; a sharpening unit mounted on said frame for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band; said sharpening unit including an upright support mounted on an axis lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slicing band, a base frame, a pivot pin mounting said base frame on said upright support and having an axis generally parallel to the longitudiml axis of said band, a sharpening tool mounted on said base frame member, and means for angular adjustment of said sharpening tool with respect to said cutting edge of said continuous slicing band including said pivot pin, an adjustable limiting device mounted on said upright support limiting pivotal movement of said base frame member in one direction and bias means for tending to hold said base frame member in contact with said limiting device; and means for urging said sharpening unit toward and said sharpening tool into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said sharpening tool is constituted as a hone fixedly attached to said base frame member.

3. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said sharpening tool is constituted as an abrasive wheel rotatably mounted on said base frame member.

4. The combination as specified in claim 3 and a protective housing mounted on said frame to encompass said sharpening tool and that portion of the slicing band in contact therewith.

5. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of a continuous slicing band while being fed over and between first and second spaced apart rotating drums, said slicing band including a pair of generally parallel side surfaces and a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of degrees therein; said device comprising a frame; spaced apart guide means on said frame each to be in contact with a part of one of said lengths of said slicing band to tend to hold a section thereof between said guide means in a single plane; a sharpening unit being mounted on said frame between said spaced apart guide means for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band and for angular adjustment with respect to said single plane of said section of the slicing band between the guide means; a cleaning unit including a pair of scraper blades situated on either side of said continuous slicing band and means for urging said scraper blades each into contact with one of said pair of side surfaces of said slicing band; and means for urging said sharpening unit into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

6. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of continuous slicing band while being fed over and between first and second spaced apart rotating drums, said slicing band including a pair of generally parallel side surfaces and a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of 180 degrees therein, said device comprising a frame, spaced apart guide means on said frame each to be in contact with a part of one of said lengths of said slicing band to tend to hold a section thereof between said guide means in a single plane, a sharpening unit carrying a sharpening tool, said sharpening unit being mounted on said frame between said spaced apart guide means for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band and for angular adjustment with respect to said single plane of said section of the slicing band between the guide means, said slicing band being adapted to move through said sharpening unit in a first direction, said sharpening unit including a cleaning unit mounted on said frame between said sharpening unit and the last of said guide means through which said slicing band passes as it moves in said first direction, said cleaning unit being mounted for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band and including a pair of pads of relatively soft material situated on either side of said slicing band, a pair of scraper blades situated on either side of said continuous slicing band, and means for urging said cleaning unit toward and said soft pads into engagageinent with side surfaces and said cutting edge of said slicing band, and means for urging said 13 scraper blades each into contact with one of the side surfaces of said slicing band; and means for urging said sharpening unit toward and said sharpening tool thereof into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

7. The combination as specified in claim 6 wherein said slicing bands move through said sharpening device in a first direction and wherein said sharpening device includes a cleaning unit mounted on said frame between said sharpening unit and the last of said guide means through which said slicing band passes as it moves in said first direction, said cleaning unit being mounted for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band and including a pair of scraper blades situated on either side of said continuous slicing band, and means for urging said scraper blades each into contact with one of the parallel side surfaces of said slicing band.

8. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of a continuous slicing band on a bread slicing machine having a main machine frame, first and second spaced apart drums rotatably mounted on said frame and means for rotating said drums, said device being operative to sharpen said slicing band while said band is being fed in a first direction over said first and second spaced apart rotating drums, said slicing band including a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of 180 degrees therein, said device comprising a sharpener frame, spaced apart guide means adapted to be positioned with respect to said machine frame each to be in contact with a pair of one of said lengths of said slicing band to tend to hold a section thereof between said guide means in a single plane, a sharpening unit carrying a sharpening tool, said sharpening unit being mounted on said sharpener frame between said spaced apart guide means for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band in a second plane perpendicular to said single plane, said sharpening unit including means for angular adjustment with respect to said single plane of said section of the slicing hand between said guide means on the plane of inward and outward bodily movement of said sharpening unit, said means including a pivotal connection between said base frame member and said upright support, an adjustable limiting device mounted on said upright support limiting pivotal movement of said base frame member in one direction and bias means for tending to hold said base frame member in contact with said limiting device and means for urging said unit toward and said sharpening tool thereof into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

9. A device for sharpening the cutting edge of a continuous slicing band while being fed over and between first and second spaced apart rotating drums, said slicing band including a pair of generally parallel side surfaces and a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of 180 degrees therein; said device comprising a frame; a sharpening unit mounted on said frame for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band and for angular adjustment with respect to said cutting edge of said continuous slicing band; a cleaning unit including a pair of scraper blades situated on either side of said continuous slicing band and means for urging said scraper blades each into contact with one of said pair of side surfaces of said slicing band; and means for urging said sharpening unit into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

10. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of a continuous slicing band while being fed over and between first and second spaced apart rotating drums, said slicing band including a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with. and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of degrees therein, said device comprising a frame; a sharpening unit mounted on said frame for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band; said sharpening unit including an upright support pivotally mounted for limited rotational movement on an axis lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said slicing band, a pair of sharpening tools mounted on said upright support on opposite sides of said axis and means for angular adjustment of said sharpening tools with respect to said cutting edge of said continuous slicing band; and means for urging said sharpening unit toward and said sharpening tools into engagement with said cuting edge of said slicing band.

11. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of a continuous slicing band while being fed over and between first and second spaced apart drums, said slicing band including a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of 180 degrees therein, said device comprising a frame; spaced apart guide means on said frame each to be in contact with a part of one of said lengths of said slicing band to tend to hold a section thereof between said guide means in a single plane; a sharpening unit mounted on said frame between said spaced apart guide means for inward and outward body movement relative to said slicing band in a second plane perpendicular to said single plane; said sharpening unit including an upright support pivotally mounted for limited rotational movement on an axis lying in a plane perpendicular to said single plane, a pair of sharpening tools mounted on said upright support at opposite sides of said upright support axis and means for angular adjustment of said sharpening tools with respect to said single plane; and means for urging said sharpening unit toward and said sharpening unit tools into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

12. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of a continuous slicing band while being fed over and between first and second spaced apart drums, said slicing band including a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said first drum to position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of 180 degrees therein, said device comprising a frame; spaced apart guide means on said frame each to be in contact with a part of one of said lengths of said slicing band to tend to hold a section thereof between said guide means in a single plane; a sharpening unit mounted on said frame between said spaced apart guide means for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band in a second plane perpendicular to said single plane; said sharpening unit including an upright support pivotally mounted for limited rotational movement on an axis lying in said second plane, a pair of sharpening tools mounted on said upright support at opposite sides of said axis and means for angular adjustment of said sharpening tools with respect to said single plane; and means for urging said sharpening unit toward and said sharpening tools into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

13. The combination as specified in claim 12 and a base frame member, wherein said pair of sharpening tools are constituted as a pair of homes fixed-1y mounted to said base frame member, and wherein said means for angular adjustment for said sharpening tools with respect to said single plane includes a pivotal connection between said base frame member and said upright support, an adjustable limiting device mounted on said upright support limiting pivotal movement of said base frame member in one direction, and resilient means operative on said upright support and said base frame member tending to urge said base frame member into contact with said limiting device.

14. A device for sharpening a cutting edge of a continuous slicing band on a bread slicing machine having a main machine frame, first and second spaced apart drums rotatably mounted on said frame and means for rotating said drums, said device being operative to sharpen said slicing band while said band is being fecl in a first direction over said first and second spaced apart rotating drums, said slicing band including a pair of lengths each extending from position in contact with and adjacent to said second drum and having a twist of 180 degrees there-in, said device comprising a sharpener support shaft mounted on said machine frame in parallel relationship to the axis of said first rotating drum, a sharpener frame pivotally mounted at a first end thereof with respect to said sharpener support shaft, 8. stop rod mounted on said machine frame in parallel relationship to said sharpener support shaft, spaced apart guide means adapted to be positioned with respect to said machine frame to be in contact with a part of one of said lengths of said slicing band to tend to hold a section thereof between said guide means in a single plane, a positioning arm integral with and extending outwardly from said sharpener frame at a second end thereof, said positioning arm being provided with a stop rod receiving groove partially bounded by a stop rod seat, a pair of sharpening units each carrying a sharpening tool and each mounted on said sharpener frame for inward and outward bodily movement relative to opposite sides of said slicing band and for angular adjustment with respect to said single plane of said section of the slicing hand between said guide means when said sharpener frame is positioned to have said stop rod resting against said stop rod seat, and means for urging said sharpening units toward and said sharpening tools into engagement with said cutting edge of said slicing band.

15. The combination as specified in claim 14 wherein said sharpening eviee includes a cleaning unit mounted on said frame between said sharpening unit and the last of said guide means through which said slicing band passes as it moves in said first direction, said cleaning unit being mounted for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band when said sharpener frame is positioned to have said stop rod in contact with said stop rod 16 seat, said cienning nnit including a pair of pads of relatively soft material situated on either side of said slicing band, and means for urging said cleaning unit toward and said soft pads into engagement with said side surfaces of said cutting edge and said slicing band and simultaneously trapping said stop rod in contact with said stop rod seat.

16. The combination as specified in claim 14 wherein said sharpening device includes a cleaning unit mounted on said frame between said sharpening unit and the last of said guide means through which said slicing band passes as it moves in said first direction; said cleaning unit being mounted for inward and outward bodily movement relative to said slicing band when said stop rod is in contact with said step rod seat; said cleaning unit including a pair of pads of relatively soft material situated on either side of said slicing band and a pair of scraper blades situated on either side of said slicing hand; and means for simultaneously trapping said stop rod against said stop rod seat, urging said cleaning unit toward said slicing band and said soft pads into engagement with side surfaces and said cutting edges, and said siieing band and said scraper blades each into contact with one of the parallel side surfaces of said band.

17. The combination as specified in claim 16, and a protective housing mounted on said frame encompassing said sharpening tool, scrapers, pads, and that portion of the slicing band in contact therewith.

18. The combination as specified in claim 16 wherein said slicing band, when moving in said first direction,

roves in order through a first of said guide means, said sharpening tools, said scrapers, said pads, and a second of said guide means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,330,535 Younger Sept. 28, I943 2,375,982 Eriksson May 15, 1945 2,786,314 Simmons Mar. 26, 1957 2,841,932 Tammen et al July 8, 1958 2,966,615 Boitscha et a1 Dec. 27, 1960 2,997,823 Irvin Aug. 29, 196i TINTTED STATES PATENT oFTTcE QE'HFKEAE l CURRECTION Patent No, 3 1205386 February 4 1964 Haryl C0 Simmons It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 31 for "secure" read we secured line 446 for "Wiper" read wiping line 65 for "scrapper" read em scraper =3 column 7 line 69 for "'wiip ng read wiping column 14 line 277 for "body" read we bodily line 37 strike out unit n Signed and sealed this 7th day of July 1964.

I (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A DEVICE FOR SHARPENING A CUTTING EDGE OF A CONTINUOUS SLICING BAND WHILE BEING FED OVER AND BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND SPACED APART ROTATING DRUMS, SAID SLICING BAND INCLUDING A PAIR OF LENGTHS EACH EXTENDING FROM POSITION IN CONTACT WITH AND ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST DRUM TO POSITION IN CONTACT WITH AND ADJACENT TO SAID SECOND DRUM AND HAVING A TWIST OF 180 DEGREES THEREIN, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A FRAME; A SHARPENING UNIT MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR INWARD AND OUTWARD BODILY MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SLICING BAND; SAID SHARPENING UNIT INCLUDING AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT MOUNTED ON AN AXIS LYING IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SLICING BAND, A BASE FRAME, A PIVOT PIN MOUNTING SAID BASE FRAME ON SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORT AND HAVING AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BAND, A SHARPENING TOOL MOUNTED ON SAID BASE FRAME MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF SAID SHARPENING TOOL WITH RESPECT TO SAID CUTTING EDGE OF SAID CONTINUOUS SLICING BAND INCLUDING SAID PIVOT PIN, AN ADJUSTABLE LIMITING DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORT LIMITING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BASE FRAME MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION AND BIAS MEANS FOR TENDING TO HOLD SAID BASE FRAME MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH SAID LIMITING DEVICE; AND MEANS FOR URGING SAID SHARPENING UNIT TOWARD AND SAID SHARPENING TOOL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CUTTING EDGE OF SAID SLICING BAND. 